[dallan]

It's not about loudness, it's about fullness and dynamics. Almost any amp can blow your ears out if you turn it up.

 

[up late]

thought it was about amplifying a signal

 

[Maxx134]

thought it was about amplifying a signal

Yes and amplifying a signal encompasses many things an amplifier has to do well..


There are many factors involved.
Damping factor
Output Impedance
Dynamics
Transients
Class of amp (choice of operation class A, B, D)
Feedback
Noise floor
Sound quality of amp (purity of signal)
Sound signature of amp (tubes like or not)
Total Harmonic distortion order (even, oddd)
Separation,
Crosstalk
Slew rate
Choice of amplification (tube, transistor, IC chip )
Etc.

All of these, and more,
are indirectly related or affected by its power.

More power "reserves" is always the obvious solution in order to drive more headphone with authority and to avoid sonic issues.

Edit:
Also MORE power does not necessarily mean better amp,
But usually relates to MORE effort involved, thus more quality involved.

 

[up late]

but it's about moar power in the end right? sure amps vary and designers have different philosophies, circuits, components - yada yada. point is they're all doing the same thing in different ways - amplifying a sound signal. fact is the sonnet 2's specs show that it has ample power to drive the w3000anv. with a sound output rating of 102db/mw at 40 ohms it's an efficient can that is easy to drive. whether you like the sound of the pairing comes down to personal preference but the w3000anv isn't underpowered by that amp.

 

[vlach]

but it's about moar power in the end right? sure amps vary and designers have different philosophies, circuits, components - yada yada. point is they're all doing the same thing in different ways - amplifying a sound signal. fact is the sonnet 2's specs show that it has ample power to drive the w3000anv. with a sound output rating of 102db/mw at 40 ohms it's an efficient can that is easy to drive. whether you like the sound of the pairing comes down to personal preference but the w3000anv isn't underpowered by that amp.

My W3000 isn't underpowered by my portable Leckerton amp (volume knob is set to 10 o'clock), however I gain sound stage width, depth, smoothness and more body to instruments when I use my very powerful vintage Yamaha receiver. Not all amps are created equal.

 

[up late]

sweet piece of vintage kit you got there. what's the power output and impedance from its headphone out compared to the leckerton?

 

[vlach]

sweet piece of vintage kit you got there. what's the power output and impedance from its headphone out compared to the leckerton?

Thanks...I love it to death!
I wish I knew the output impedance of the Yamaha...I can't find that particular spec anywhere...I don't worry too much about it because it drives absolutely any headphone effortlessly. The headphone out is tapped right at the speaker output terminals with an online resistor if I'm not mistaken.
The Leckerton has less than 1 ohm output impedance.

 

[up late]

yeah lurv vintage gear. a relative has a marantz receiver from the '70's that i have to stop myself from drooling over. anyways no dramas - was just interested in how they compared power and impedance wise.

 

[vlach]

yeah lurv vintage gear. a relative has a marantz receiver from the '70's that i have to stop myself from drooling over. anyways no dramas - was just interested in how they compared power and impedance wise.

The good news is there are tons of vintage receivers on Craigslist, many in great condition starting as low as $100. Many have dual headphone jacks, controls for bass, mids, treble, variable loudness, filters, turnover frequencies, audio muting, reverse stereo, etc.

 

[up late]

man they're cheap. it's really tempting but don't have the room for another big amp -bought a new integrated amp last year.

 

[mink70]

Want to chime in after owning this headphone for a couple of months. Mine has the leather Alpha pads.
 
I traded it straight up at the last New York meet for my HD800 with a Cardas cable, and I've never been a happier headphone listener. 
 
The HD800 blew me away at first listen, and I continue to appreciate its technical abilities, but I grew to not really enjoy listening that much. After 20 or 25 minutes, I found myself losing interest. And this after an aftermarket cable and a $1400 tube amp I bought specifically to match it. I enjoyed my HD650 more, but always felt that I wanted more detail and excitement. Somehow it proved difficult to enjoy in the shadow of it's younger, flashier, more expensive sibling.
 
After getting the W3000ANV, I have listened more in two months than in the year before. I needed a closed pair as I moved to a noisier environment, and in addition to more isolation, I gained a more enjoyable bass, an ability to listen for hours without fatigue, and that special euphony that makes music so engaging and inviting. (Its ability to play with many more amps is nice, too.) Though the soundstaging, detail and dynamics are below those of the HD800 (though well above those of the HD650), I find them technically excellent and perfectly sufficient. I never find myself wishing for more of anything. Some have called the W3000ANV a colored headphone, but I find the richness of the sound and the slightly elevated midrange to be entirely a benefit to my enjoyment of and involvement in the music. I listen mostly to jazz, pop, rock, country, r&b, world and some classical, so I don't need headphones to reproduce Slayer or Skrillex at 108db. 
 
Having said all that, this is my favorite headphone, ever. It has the most beautiful tone of any can I've heard. And I've never heard another that made want to listen more. Isn't that what we're all after?
 
(Now if only AT would resume making it...)

 

[up late]

hear what you're saying but there are times when i want the clarity, impact and soundstage of the th900 over the w3000anv

 

[MoatsArt]

.

 

[mink70]

hear what you're saying but there are times when i want the clarity, impact and soundstage of the th900 over the w3000anv

I was saying that right now, it's the headphone for me. Just one person's impressions. 

 

[up late]

sure. was just replying to your post with another impression coz this is a forum - it's all good.